The Java Community Process (JCP), established in 1998, is a formalized mechanism that allows interested parties to develop standard technical specifications for
Java technology
Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's most ...
. Anyone can become a JCP Member by filling a form available at th
JCP website JCP membership for organizations and
commercial entities requires annual fees – but is free for individuals.
The JCP involves the use of Java Specification Requests (JSRs) – the formal documents that describe proposed specifications and technologies for adding to the
Java platform
Java is a set of computer software and specifications developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems, which was later acquired by the Oracle Corporation, that provides a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cro ...
. Formal public reviews of JSRs take place before a JSR becomes ''final'' and the
JCP Executive Committee votes on it. A final JSR provides a ''
reference implementation
In the software development process, a reference implementation (or, less frequently, sample implementation or model implementation) is a program that implements all requirements from a corresponding specification. The reference implementation ...
'' that is a free implementation of the technology in
source code
In computing, source code, or simply code, is any collection of code, with or without comment (computer programming), comments, written using a human-readable programming language, usually as plain text. The source code of a Computer program, p ...
form and a ''
Technology Compatibility Kit
A Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) is a suite of tests that at least nominally checks a particular alleged implementation of a Java Specification Request (JSR) for compliance. It is one of the three required pieces for a ratified JSR in the Java ...
'' to verify the
API
An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how ...
specification.
A JSR describes the JCP itself. , JSR 387 describes the current version (2.11) of the JCP.
List of JSRs
There are hundreds of JSRs. Some of the more visible JSRs include:
Criticism
The JCP's executive board has been characterized as a "
rubber stamp organization" since
Oracle
An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination.
Description
The wor ...
acquired
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun for short) was an American technology company that sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services and created the Java programming language, the Solaris operating system, ZFS, ...
(the original developer of the
Java language
Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is a general-purpose programming language intended to let programmers ''write once, run anyw ...
).
The
Apache Software Foundation resigned its seat on the board in December 2010 because
Oracle
An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination.
Description
The wor ...
was unwilling to license the
Technology Compatibility Kit
A Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) is a suite of tests that at least nominally checks a particular alleged implementation of a Java Specification Request (JSR) for compliance. It is one of the three required pieces for a ratified JSR in the Java ...
for Apache's version of Java.
JCP Program and Industry Awards
Source:
The Java Community Process(SM) Program - Press & Success - News Stories
Jcp.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-17.
See also
* JDK Enhancement Proposal
Notes
External links
Java Community Process home page
List of all JSRs rated final
List of all JSRs
{{Java (software platform)